Watan-The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas confirmed in a statement Monday evening that it had informed mediators in Egypt and Qatar of its approval of a proposal for a ceasefire agreement.
According to the statement, Hamas’s political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, contacted Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Major General Abbas Kamel, informing them of the movement’s decision to agree to the ceasefire proposal.
This comes amid a state of anticipation among residents of the Palestinian city of Rafah, fearing an imminent Israeli invasion of the city, which has become the last refuge for around 1.5 million displaced people.
A Hamas delegation had held talks in Cairo for two days regarding ending the war on Gaza and exchanging prisoners, then the delegation returned to Qatar yesterday, Sunday, for consultations with the political leadership of the movement.
Details of the proposal agreed upon by Hamas
On the other hand, Israeli negotiation team reportedly received Hamas’s response from the mediators and is studying it for an official reply.
Reuters quoted an Israeli official as saying that Hamas’s announcement “seems to be a deception to portray Israel as the party refusing the agreement.”
The occupation official added that the proposal includes major concessions that Israel cannot accept, according to his description.
Sources cited by Al Jazeera indicated that the proposal includes 3 stages, each lasting 42 days.
This includes a complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Nahal Oz axis in the first stage and allowing the displaced to return freely.
🎥هكذا استقبل الأطفال في #رفح إعلان #حماس موافقتها على وقف إطلاق النار. pic.twitter.com/CsredRlWMQ
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) May 6, 2024
In the second stage, it is supposed that occupation forces will withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.
The sources added that the proposal includes agreeing to completely lift the blockade on Gaza in the third stage.
Additionally, Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, stated that the proposal includes the release of 30 prisoners of the same category from occupation prisons based on seniority.
He continued that the proposal also includes in its second stage the direct declaration of a permanent cessation of military and hostile operations.
He added: “The mediators told us that the US president is committed to ensuring the implementation of the agreement.”
Celebrations in Gaza
Several videos documented the joy of many Palestinians, especially in Rafah, at Hamas’s announcement of its approval of the ceasefire proposal.
Furthermore, a Hamas statement also revealed that the head of the movement’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, phoned the Turkish president and briefed him on the movement’s approval of the ceasefire proposal received from the mediators.
🎥تكبيرات الأهالي في #رفح ابتهاجاً بإعلان حركة #حماس موافقتها على مقترح وقف اطلاق النار. pic.twitter.com/ijXFDMHkkb
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) May 6, 2024
Egypt warned on Monday of the risks of a possible Israeli military operation in the Palestinian area of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, due to the humanitarian risks posed by this escalatory action to over a million Palestinians in that area, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published on its “X” website.
In an escalation of events, Israel on Monday called on residents of areas in eastern Rafah, Palestine, in the far south of Gaza, to evacuate immediately and head towards the center of the Strip, signaling Israel’s intention to carry out its threat to invade Rafah despite international warnings.